Washing machine



July 6 1926. 1,591,885

E. H. PETERSEN WASHING MACHINE Filed July 5l 1922 www W5? f tub, thereby more elnciently cleansing the Patented eluly 6, 1926.

ERNEST H. PETER-san, on sr. rant, MINNESOTA.

wAsHInG iiraomnn.

Application filed .nay s1,

My invention relates to washing machines and has for its object to provide a washing machine consisting of a tub with a support therefor, such that the tub may be rocked to and tro to cause the articles within the same to be tumbled about within the tub and thereby cleansed. l Another' object is to form the tub of a flat elongated 'shape with the ends of the same formed with circular curves so Vthat the water within the machine is caused to travel around the said curves and to completely change directions so as to strike downwardly upon the clotheswithin the same.

A still further object is to form a tub with a flat bottom having a plurality ot' corrugations or slats across the same, for permitting the clothes to slide along the bottom as the tub is rocked, thereby rubbing the clothes.

A still further object is to provide a base for supporting the machine, having a pair ot rails and to provide runners attached to the sides ofthe tub adapted to rest upon the said tracks.

Another object is to provide complemental cam members at the center ot saidtraclrs and runners, cooperating with one another to hold the tub in oscillating position upon the tracks.l i s y A still further object of the invention is to provide resilient bumpers at the end ot the runners, adapted to engage the ends ot the track when the tub reaches its eXtreme position.

The full objects will be found in the detailed description thereof, and are particularly pointed out in the claims. Y

In the drawings forming part of the specification: Y

Figure 1 is a side view ot my invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with parts cut away to show the interior construction of the tub and illustrating the tub in an inclined position.

Figure 3 is an end view ot' the invention showing a portion of the same in sections. In the construction of hand operating washing machines it is desirable to produce a machine which requires a minimum amount otexertion to operate and which wiii efectiv'ely cleanse the clothes placed within theY same; My invention produces l15 ot the cast-ings 10 and 11.

ieee. sei-iai nu. 578,548.

these results by the employment of a single tub adapted to be rocked upon rockers much in the manner ot a rocking chair, which tub is provided with a handle for manipulating the same.

lily invention proper consists ot an oscillating tub lli which is mounted upon `a trame B. The trame B consists of two castings 10 and 11 which are formed with rail portions 12 extending across the same and with flanges 13 connecting with said rail portions. At the ends of the castings 10 and 11 arabi-aces extending downwardly as in-V dicated at 14;. Along the Vportions 14 and castings 10 and 11, I provide ribs 15 which y are arranged in inclined relation to the rails 12. The ribs 15, braces 14 and ianges 18 serve to support the legs 16 which are rigidly bolted thereto by bolts 17. In addition to the castings 10 and 11 for holding legs 16 in place, I provide two cross rails 1S and 19 which are screwed to the said legs 16 by screws 20, immediately below lthe ribs vWith this construction a rigid framework is provided which is er;ce' edin ly simple and which tirinly supports the tub as will be presently described.

ylhe tub A which forms a portion of my invention isshaped as best shown in Figures 2 and 3. This tub is `formed with a flat bottom 21 and a top 22 arranged in parallel relation to` one another. The said top and bottom are connected by means' ot curved ends 423and 24 which may be curved to conform to a semi-circle or any similar curve. Along the edges of thetop 22 and bottom 21 and ends 23 and 2li, I attach two side members 25 and26 which are secured thereto, to form a water tight container. l prefer to construct the tub of sheet metal, though the same may be constructed of wood it desired. Along the center ofthe top 22 the same is formed with an opening4 2T through which. the clothes may be inserted into the tub. Along the edges ot this opening, the lmetal ot the sides a'ndtop is bent 'over to form a flange 28 andV a seat 429 upon which a cover may be placed. Cover 30 is loosely positioned upon the seats 29 and remains `in pla'ce during the washing operation without being secured to thetub proper, but it desired `fastening Ameans otordinary construction maybe employed. `VThe liange 28 which. 'extends'ar'ound the opening Cil 27 serves to 4prevent any ater which may pass by the covei` 30, from leaving the machine.

For supporting` the tub upon the trame B, I provide tivo runners 31 and 32 which are formed vvith flanges 33, adapted to lie flush against the sides and 2G of tub A and uhich have issuing` outwardly therefrom, rockers 3ft adapted to rest upon and rock upon the rails 12 oi the trame B. Runners 31 and 32 have attached to the lovver portions of the Hanges 33, at the center oi the tub, a V-shaped cam member 35 having internal cam surfaces 36, best shoivn in Figure 1. A lug or pin 37 cast integral with the edge ot the rail 12 is adapted to engage the cam Walls 36 so as to hold the center rockers 3% centrally positioned upon the tracks 12. The cam Walls 3G are so curved that as the tub A rocks upon its support, the lug 37 follows along the Walls 36 ot' cam 35 Without appreciable friction against the same. I have discovered that when only one cam member 35 is employed that u'hen the tub A is vigorously rocked, the rocker 34 creeps upon the track 12 so that vvhen the tub A is in the position sho'vfn in Figure 2, the lug 37 has lett the cam vvall 3G which it Was following and is positioned between the tivo cam Walls. TWhen the tub rocks back into normal position this naturally causes the lug 37 to engage the opposite cam vvall, thereby forcing the rocker to slip upon the'rail 12 so that the tub can again assume normalrposition with lug 37 in contact with its respective cam vvall.

The sliding of the tub along the track is highly undesirable, as a greater amount ot' energy is required to operate the same than where the tub remains centrally upon the track. For overcoming this diiculty, I provide another cam member 3S which is integrally connected with the castings 10 and 11, near the center thereof. This member is formed with cam Walls 40, vvhich are similar to the cam Walls 36 of the cam 35 and the said walls are adapted to engage a lug 41 attached to the runners 31 and 3a. lith this construction the tub cannot be moved longitudinally along the tracks 12 in either direction of the same, regardless of the position of the same relative thereto. This is due to the fact that lug 41 holds it from movement in one direction, While the lug 37 holds it from movement in the other direction. lVith this device the energy required for operating the machine is greatly reduced, thereby making the invention exceedingly easy to operate.

For attaching the runners 31 and 32 to the tub A, I provide them vvith a number of depending hooked brackets 42, which are formed integral with the flanges 33 and which extend below the bottom ot the said tub and the edges thereof. Through the lovver portion ot' the two cams ot runners 31 and 32, I pass a rod L13 upon which is screwed two nuts 114-, serving to clamp the members 31 and 32 in place. In addition to this rod, I provide two rip-standing rib braces 45 which are provided vvith loops i0 in which a handle @t7 may be set. A bolt 118 passing through the upper loop llli 'for holding the handle 17 in place, also passes through the side 25 ot tub A to rigidly hold the upper end ot the runner 31 at? tachedV to the tub proper. In this manner it can be clearly seen that the runners are attached to the tub so that leakage ot uater troni the tub is absolutely prevented.

For terminating the movement :it each end of the oscillation of the tub and lor assisting in reversing the saine, l provide tu'o rcsilient bumpers best shovvn in Figures l and 2. Attached to the ends ol the rowers 3lly provide bosses Lt() which are arranged lo be spaced above the bottom ot said rockers. Through these hij, are .flidablv mounted bolts which have coil springs 51 encircling the same. .fhen the heads ot' these bolts strike the tracks the coil syn-ings 5l are coin'l'iressed, thereby retarding the movement ot' the tub and aiding in reversing the direction of travel ol.' the same. ln this manner the tub is caused to rock in a very t easy manner so that little exertion is required to operate the machine. For draining the Water from the tub a drain 200 provided.

liy improved Washing machine is evccedingly simple in construction and having fev.' parts to the same which do not readily get out ot' order. Due to this tact the machine vvill last a long time giving the required service throughout its lite. Due to the shapeot the tub the energy imparted to the Water vvithin the saine causes the clothes Within the same to be thoroughly cleansed with a minimum amount et vrork. I3); arranging the tub on rockers and providing the resilient bumpers, the tub very easily opeated and requires a small amount ot vvork to operate it.

Furthermore. the shape ot the tub causes the clothes to slide along the corrugated bottoni oi the tub and to be rubbed in the course et movement across the same. Then the clothes and Water reach the end ot' the tub the circular smooth ends cause the clothes to follov.' ireely aiong the same untii the entire mass is turned over and (fair-fed to tall doivnvvardly upon the bottom ot the tub. This has the etli'ect ol' thoroughly cleansing the cloth-es b v forcing the vvater through them and dravving the clothes to the other end where the same operation is repeated.

The clothes are placed into the tub through the opening 27 and the same filled u'ith u'ater to a` level, reaching about a third of the height' of the saine. Upon rocking lll) lil)

the tub upon the rockers 34 the water within the tub is caused to travel along the bottom of thel same, passing over and through the clothes in the said tub. To rub the clothes while sliding along the bottom, I provide a plurality ot corrugations 60 which are attached, or formed in the tub bottom. As the water and the clothes strike the curved ends 23 and 24 of the tub the movement et' the same is rever-sed in direction and which causes the same to impinge downwardy upon the bottom 27. In this manner the torce of the water causes the same to penetrate through the clothes thereby removing the dirt from the same. In this manner it can readily be seen that all of the energy ot the water is utilized for the purpose ot cleansing the clothes.

In .accordance with the patent statutes I have described my invention, illustrating the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the invention can be carried out by other` means and applied to uses other than those above setforth within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

l. A Washing machine comprising a frame, a tub, rockers secured to said tub adapted to ride upon said frame, a cam memb-er secured to said rocker, a cam lug se-V cured to said trame and adapted to operate with said cam member, a second cam secured to said frame and a second cam lug secured to said rocker, .adapted to operate with said second cam, said cams and ylugs operating in conjunction to deprive the tub of longitudinal movement ineit-her direction regardless of the position of the tub relative to the frame.

2. A washing machine comprising a frame, a tub, a runner positioned on each sid-e of said tub, a pair ot hook members attached to said runners and adapted to extend beneath the bottom of said tub, and upwardly extending arms connected to said tub, a depending member connected with said runners, a .single rod passing through said depending members, below the tub for clamping the members there-to.

3. A Washing machine comprising a frame, a tub adapted to rest thereon, said tub having a top and bottom in substantially parallel relation, semi-circular ends connecting said top and bottom, and means in.

cluding two oppositely disposed notches secured to said trame and tub respectively adapted to cooperate to limit the rocking of the pivot points of said tub.

t. A washing machine including, a pair of rails, a tub, rockers secured to said tub and two oppositely disposed notches secured to said rails and rockers respectively adapted to cooperate to limit the rocking of the pivot points of said tub.

5. A washing machine comprising a frame including a pair ot rails, a tub, rockers secured to said tub and adapted to ride upon said rails and pairs of interlocking cam members secured to said rails and rockers for depriving the tub of translatory movement upon the rails.

ERNEST II. PETERSEN. 

